Trump asked Russia investigation witnesses about their meetings with investigators.

“Early favorites” for the 2020 Republican National Convention “include Phoenix, New York, Miami and San Antonio.” (Politico)

LOOSE LIPS. “The special counsel in the Russia investigation has learned of two conversations in recent months in which President Trump asked key witnesses about matters they discussed with investigators.”

“In one episode, the president told an aide that the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, should issue a statement denying a New York Times article in January. The article said Mr. McGahn told investigators that the president once asked him to fire the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III. Mr. McGahn never released a statement and later had to remind the president that he had indeed asked Mr. McGahn to see that Mr. Mueller was dismissed. … In the other episode, Mr. Trump asked his former chief of staff, Reince Priebus, how his interview had gone with the special counsel’s investigators and whether they had been ‘nice,’ according to two people familiar with the discussion.

“The episodes demonstrate that even as the special counsel investigation appears to be intensifying, the president has ignored his lawyers’ advice to avoid doing anything publicly or privately that could create the appearance of interfering with it.” (New York Times)

COHN ANXIETY. “GOP angst is reaching new heights with Gary Cohn’s departure from the White House, as congressional Republicans lose a key check on Donald Trump’s proclivity for protectionism.

“The outgoing economic adviser to Trump is one of Hill Republicans’ most accessible conduits to the White House. He’s worked closely with them on tax reform, banking deregulation and, most critically, pushing back against new tariffs—an argument that Cohn clearly lost.

“Republican leaders are still pushing to limit the scope of new tariffs on aluminum and steel. But at a crucial moment in their fight against a president from their own party, they’re about to be down a key ally. And with no prominent free traders left in the White House, Republicans worry Trump might take even more drastic measures like withdrawing from NAFTA and end up hobbling the economy in an election year.” (Politico)

CONTEXT. “The record-high turnover at the White House has now reached 43 percent with the pending departure of … Cohn … as the team that arrived with Mr. Trump 13 months ago heads for the doors in increasing numbers and the president increasingly relies on his own judgment for key decisions.” (New York Times)

WYOMING. “The Cheyenne Police Department is investigating an alleged assault that took place Feb. 23 between the Wyoming Republican Party executive director and party secretary. Details of the incident that occurred at the Wyoming Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Legislator Appreciation Dinner could not be released pending further investigation, said Public Information Officer Kevin Malatesta.” (Casper Star-Tribune)

"President Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that would increase the amount of information colleges divulge to prospective students, while adding pressure on schools not to discriminate against unpopular political views. The order will be signed Thursday afternoon and follows Trump's pledge in a speech this month to sign an executive order on university free speech after incidents, including an alleged assault, targeting conservative students. The executive order will require that, in order to receive federal grants, schools confirm to 12 federal agencies they are abiding by the First Amendment."

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NO INDICTMENTS SINCE JANUARY

Mueller's Team Down to 10 Lawyers

1 days ago

THE LATEST

"Mueller’s team, once filled with 17 lawyers, will soon be down to 10. The special counsel’s office confirmed in recent days that Zainab Ahmad’s detail has ended, and Andrew Weissmann will soon be leaving for the private sector. No one has been charged by the special counsel since longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone was indicted in January for allegedly lying to Congress."

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HE PLANNED TO LEAVE MID-MARCH

Rosenstein Not Leaving DOJ Yet

2 days ago

THE LATEST

MANAFORT STEERED HIM WORK IN UKRAINE

Prosecutors Weighing Whether to Charge Greg Craig

3 days ago

THE LATEST

A long-running federal investigation into former Obama White House counsel Gregory Craig "is reaching a critical stage, presenting the Justice Department with a decision about whether to charge a prominent Democrat as part of a more aggressive crackdown on illegal foreign lobbying." Federal prosecutors in New York have transferred the case to Washington. ... The investigation centers on whether Mr. Craig should have disclosed work he did in 2012 — while he was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom — on behalf of the Russia-aligned government of Viktor F. Yanukovych, then the president of Ukraine. The work was steered to Mr. Craig by Paul Manafort."

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AUTHORIZED TO UNLOCK PHONES

Feds Raided Broidy's Offices Last Year

3 days ago

THE LATEST

"Federal authorities raided the office of Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy last summer, seeking records related to his dealings with foreign officials and Trump administration associates, according to a sealed search warrant obtained by ProPublica. Agents were authorized to use the megadonor’s hands and face to unlock any phones that required fingerprint or facial scans."